Exiled Tibetans stage march in Delhi ahead of Olympic torch relay

New Delhi, Apr 16 : Exiled Tibetans in India staged a peaceful solidarity march today in New Delhi ahead of Olympic torch relay.

Police detained the protestors when they started their protest march.

The monks sang religious hymns and held photographs of Mahatma Gandhi.

The marchers sought the release of the Tibetan spiritual leader Panchen Lama who was kidnapped and his whereabouts are not known.

"Our main objective is to pressurise the Indian government to initiate talks with Chinese government about independence of Tibet. We will pray here and then conduct a solitary march and will give a memorandum to the Prime Minister and UN's (United Nation) office," said Shupan Dorjee, a Tibetan monk.

Massive security arrangements have been made for the relay of the Olympic Torch in India after the route was shortened in a bid to prevent disruptions, although protests have not been barred.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi had said on Tuesday that there would be no bar on peaceful Tibetan protests during the April 17 relay of the Olympic torch in the capital.

About 100 exiled Tibetans tried to breach the security cordon around the Chinese Embassy earlier this morning.

Meanwhile, the exiled Tibetans continued their hunger strike for the 33rd day in Dharamsala.

China has voiced its anger against the disruptions in the torch relay. It has also warned of harsh punishment for those involved in the unrest in Tibet.